JAX District Unveils Public Programs From September to November

The Diriyah Biennale Foundation announced a new lineup of public programs at JAX District in Riyadh, with a rich calendar starting in September 2026 and featuring six to eight programs each month through November. The announcement, carried by the Saudi Press Agency, places year-round cultural engagement at the heart of the foundation’s mission. The programs coincide with major events at JAX District and are designed to connect audiences with the wider cultural and creative activity across the district, creating opportunities for exchange and learning.

Context and Background

Public programs are central to the work of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, extending its reach beyond the biennale cycle into a sustained platform for dialogue, learning, and cultural exchange. By bringing artists, researchers, practitioners, and audiences together, these initiatives make cultural knowledge more accessible and give participants the chance to develop hands-on creative skills while engaging with new perspectives. JAX District, a growing creative hub in Diriyah, provides a natural home for this activity, with its galleries, studios, and event spaces supporting a dynamic ecosystem of Saudi and international talent. The new calendar reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader investment in culture as a driver of social and economic development.

Program Highlights from September to November

September sees the return of the Culture on Tap monthly series, alongside a number of workshops. These include a session introducing the fundamentals of soldering and handmade alternative frame making, led by artist Yasmina Hilal, and a children’s workshop exploring the Polaroid emulsion lift technique. The October program coincides with the Creative Summit, running at JAX District from October 3 to 5. As part of the program, Noura Al-Maashouq, Director of the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA), joins Graham Southern, former Post-War and Contemporary Art Director at Christie’s, for an edition of How We Met, a fireside chat series exploring how leading figures in arts and culture first crossed paths.

Launching on October 21, a new publication titled Thoughts for Food extends the work of the first edition of The Research Room TURUQ: The Many Ways of Food, which was held during the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 and brought together food and culinary practitioners in Jeddah. Publishing and printing take center stage in November with the return of the third edition of the PaperBack Art Book Fair from November 5 to 7. The month kicks off with an intensive four-day risograph printing course, presented by the experimental publishing and visual research studio Water With Water. This is followed by a full PaperBack program involving workshops and talks on alternative publishing, in addition to exclusive book launches, including the launch of a new book that pays tribute to Jeddah.

Implications and Impact

The expanded public program signals the growing maturity of Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector and its ability to host diverse, high-quality programming across the year. For international audiences, the calendar offers accessible entry points into contemporary Saudi and regional creative practice, from print culture and publishing to culinary research and museum leadership. For Saudi artists, researchers, and creative entrepreneurs, the workshops and talks provide professional development, networking, and visibility. The presence of figures such as Noura Al-Maashouq and Graham Southern also highlights the foundation’s role in facilitating global dialogue. By aligning public programs with major events at JAX District, the foundation strengthens Riyadh’s position as a cultural destination and supports the growth of cultural tourism.

Vision 2030 Alignment

The initiative aligns closely with Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy, enhance quality of life, and promote cultural participation. By supporting year-round programming, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation contributes to the development of a vibrant creative economy and helps position the Kingdom as a global hub for arts, design, and knowledge exchange. JAX District’s expanding calendar demonstrates how cultural investment can generate lasting social and economic value, while inviting the world to engage with Saudi Arabia’s heritage and contemporary creativity. As the program unfolds from September to November, it will reinforce the Kingdom’s forward-looking role in shaping the global cultural landscape.

20 Questions

Q1. What did the Diriyah Biennale Foundation announce for JAX District?

A1. The Diriyah Biennale Foundation announced a new lineup of public programs at JAX District, beginning in September 2026 and continuing through November, with six to eight programs each month. The initiative connects audiences with cultural and creative activity across the district.

Q2. When does the new public program calendar begin?

A2. The calendar begins in September 2026 and runs through November 2026. It features six to eight programs monthly, according to the Saudi Press Agency. These programs are timed to coincide with major events taking place at JAX District.

Q3. Where is JAX District located?

A3. JAX District is a creative and cultural hub in Diriyah, near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It hosts exhibitions, events, and public programs throughout the year. The district serves as a platform for artists, researchers, practitioners, and audiences to engage with contemporary culture and creative industries.

Q4. What is the purpose of the public programs?

A4. The public programs extend the Diriyah Biennale Foundation’s reach beyond the biennale cycle into a year-round platform for dialogue, learning, and cultural exchange. They make cultural knowledge more accessible and give participants opportunities to develop hands-on creative skills and engage with new perspectives.

Q5. What types of activities are included?

A5. The programs include workshops, talks, screenings, and performances. They bring together artists, researchers, practitioners, and audiences. These formats encourage active participation, skill development, and exchange of ideas within Saudi Arabia’s growing cultural sector.

Q6. What returns in September?

A6. September sees the return of the Culture on Tap monthly series. The month also includes workshops such as an introduction to soldering and handmade alternative frame making by artist Yasmina Hilal, plus a children’s workshop exploring the Polaroid emulsion lift technique.

Q7. Who leads the soldering and frame-making workshop?

A7. Artist Yasmina Hilal leads the workshop introducing the fundamentals of soldering and handmade alternative frame making. The session is part of September’s public program at JAX District and offers participants practical creative skills in a supportive learning environment.

Q8. What children’s workshop is planned?

A8. A children’s workshop will explore the Polaroid emulsion lift technique. This hands-on activity introduces young participants to an experimental photographic process, encouraging creativity and artistic discovery. It reflects the foundation’s commitment to accessible cultural education for all ages.

Q9. What major event coincides with October programs?

A9. The October program coincides with the Creative Summit, which runs at JAX District from October 3 to 5, 2026. The summit brings together cultural and creative leaders, and the foundation’s public programs complement its schedule with talks and exchanges.

Q10. Who participates in the How We Met fireside chat?

A10. Noura Al-Maashouq, Director of the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA), joins Graham Southern, former Post-War and Contemporary Art Director at Christie’s, for an edition of How We Met. The series explores how leading arts figures first crossed paths.

Q11. What is How We Met?

A11. How We Met is a fireside chat series that explores how leading figures in arts and culture first crossed paths. The edition at JAX District features Noura Al-Maashouq and Graham Southern, offering audiences insights into professional journeys and international cultural connections.

Q12. What publication launches on October 21?

A12. Thoughts for Food launches on October 21. It extends the work of the first edition of The Research Room TURUQ: The Many Ways of Food, which was held during the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 and brought together food and culinary practitioners in Jeddah.

Q13. What does Thoughts for Food extend?

A13. Thoughts for Food extends The Research Room TURUQ: The Many Ways of Food, a project presented during the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 in Jeddah. The publication continues the exploration of food as cultural knowledge, bringing culinary and artistic perspectives to a wider audience.

Q14. What happens in November?

A14. November focuses on publishing and printing. The month begins with a four-day risograph printing course presented by Water With Water, an experimental publishing and visual research studio. It also features the third edition of the PaperBack Art Book Fair from November 5 to 7.

Q15. What is the PaperBack Art Book Fair?

A15. PaperBack Art Book Fair is a recurring event dedicated to publishing, artists’ books, and print culture. Its third edition runs from November 5 to 7 at JAX District, featuring workshops, talks on alternative publishing, and exclusive book launches.

Q16. Who presents the risograph printing course?

A16. The four-day risograph printing course is presented by Water With Water, an experimental publishing and visual research studio. The course offers intensive training in risograph printing, a technique popular in independent publishing and visual arts.

Q17. What book launch is planned in November?

A17. November’s PaperBack program includes exclusive book launches, among them a new book that pays tribute to Jeddah. This launch highlights the role of publishing in documenting and celebrating Saudi cultural heritage and urban identity.

Q18. How do these programs benefit international audiences?

A18. International audiences gain access to talks, workshops, and publications that showcase Saudi Arabia’s cultural dynamism. The programs foster cross-cultural exchange, create networking opportunities, and present contemporary Saudi and regional creative practice within a global context.

Q19. How does the initiative support Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector?

A19. It supports the cultural sector by providing year-round programming, professional development, and platforms for artists and researchers. These efforts build skills, encourage collaboration, and strengthen the creative economy in line with the Kingdom’s broader cultural transformation.

Q20. How does this align with Vision 2030?

A20. The initiative aligns with Vision 2030 by enhancing quality of life, expanding cultural participation, and supporting a diversified economy. It reinforces Saudi Arabia’s global cultural role and advances Diriyah’s position as a leading destination for arts, learning, and exchange.

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